Employers posted 325,345 life sciences job ads in Q4 2025, down modestly from a revised 336,029 in Q3. While postings were 12.3% lower year over year, the rate of decline slowed meaningfully, and overall life sciences hiring demand tracked only slightly below the two-period moving average.

Sub-sector performance remained uneven. Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing showed relative resilience, increasing 2.11% quarter over quarter, while Research, Testing and Medical Laboratories and Medical Devices and Equipment declined 0.4% and 13.88%, respectively. On a year-over-year basis, all major sub-sectors remained under pressure, reinforcing that employers continue to hire selectively rather than expansively.

Notably, reported workforce reductions declined from earlier 2025 levels, suggesting the most aggressive cost-cutting phase may be behind the sector. Hiring activity remained concentrated in regulatory, clinical development, quality, and targeted commercialization roles, indicating a continued focus on operational readiness rather than broad-based growth.

Overall, the Q4 data points to a labor market that is no longer deteriorating rapidly but has not yet entered a sustained expansion, with stabilization emerging ahead of renewed hiring momentum in 2026. View additional life sciences hiring benchmarks and market tools.